I have this strange feeling that these intros are very long and the chapters are too short. Do any of you think so? Anyway, the responses I've been receiving are still dwindling, my guess is that it's because I update way too fast. So I'm going to be uploading at a more normal pace. Sorry if any of you don't like this but it's my decision. Now here are my reviewer shout outs!

To Littletiger – Glad to hear your friends like it! Tell them thanks for reading if you could.

That's pretty much it for now, can't wait to see what else all of you have to say about this story. Don't be afraid to share your opinion. It's okay if you hate it; just tell me how I can improve on it. Reviews make a writer happy. And for now I won't be doing these intros anymore. I feel like if new readers come to read this then they'll want to ignore these intros so they're pretty much useless. This'll be the last one unless I need to answer a question given to me by a reviewer. P.S. When I've completed this story, I will revise it to fix my mistakes because I've noticed a lot of them.

-X-

Kopa walked through the grass until he found a place where it was covered by leaves. The shape made it into a natural curtain that covered his view. He pulled back the leaves to reveal a beautifully starlit night sky.

"Wow…" he breathed as he stepped into full view of it. "It's even more beautiful than in my dream"

He sat down and looked at the stars and tried to remember every little detail from his dream. He remembered something about 'Great Kings of the Past' but he also remembered how he used to love coming here as a cub. He turned to his right and was about to try a different location to view the stars but his paw accidentally bumped into something. It was warm and furry.

He heard a soft moan and he looked down to see Vitani. She was fast asleep on the dampened grass but when he had accidentally kicked her she was slowly waking up. She tiredly rubbed her eyes with her paws and looked up at him.

"Simba?" asked Vitani but realized quickly who he really was. "No…Kopa? What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep so I came here…I had this dream last night where I was a cub and I came here. I had this other lioness cub with me that night and we were meeting the king for some reason. What about you, what are you doing here?" said Kopa hesitantly.

"I couldn't sleep either so I went to take a walk. I came here to look up at the stars and I must've dozed off" said Vitani quietly. She remembered that memory he was speaking of perfectly. It was one of her favorites since it was one where she was together with Kopa.

"I have to ask you something Vitani…And I need you to be completely honest with me" said Kopa.

Vitani seemed to be surprised by this but she didn't want to disappoint him. "I can't promise you that I'll be completely honest but I'll do my best. Fire away…"

"When I was a cub growing up here…We were best friends, right?"

"…Yes…We were…Actually Afua was your best friend but I come a close second. We used to hang out a lot and we loved to come here to gaze at the stars. It was a lot of fun being around you…"

"And…Is that the truth?"

"Of course…I've lied a lot in my days but this is one subject I wouldn't give false words to"

"Thanks…That's all I needed to hear" smiled Kopa.

Vitani felt her heartbeat quicken with just one look of his smile. It had the same childish grin as it did years ago but now there was this more mature feel to it. The scars were still an eyesore but once you looked past that he was a very handsome lion.

"No problem" she said quietly. She was thankful for her fur or else he would've seen her blushing.

"Actually, there's something else I wanted to ask you" said Kopa.

"Go ahead"

"Would you be willing to be my friend again? It's just I think you're a really nice lioness and according to my memories…You were one of the best things to have ever happened to me. And it'd also be nice if you could help me remember everything about the Pride Lands…I'd love to see what I could remember…Especially about you"

Okay, if she was blushing before her face was now on fire. She felt like she could just die right there and she'd be content but she knew she had to keep her emotions in check. Looks like Zira's teachings would have to come into use once more.

"I'd like that" smiled Vitani shyly.

-X-

It was finally daybreak and everyone in the pride was up and awake. Even Timon and Pumbaa who usually preferred to remain asleep during this time. But there were two specific animals that were enjoying their morning to the fullest.

"No, it just isn't possible" laughed Vitani as she walked through the tall grass with Kopa by her side.

"Hey no matter what you say I know what I saw. Tamina really did beat up a rhino" smiled Kopa.

"A meerkat? Really? I learned to never underestimate my enemies but that just seems way too farfetched. But if you keep this up then I'll pretend you said something more reasonable and agree"

"Yeah, that definitely sounds like you"

"What's like me? You remember something?"

"Sort of…I think I'm starting to remember your personality a bit better. You like to have fun, you enjoy hunting, you love to be out in the fresh air, and you hate to be corrected"

"That's pretty much how I am. What else do you remember about me?" asked Vitani, curious to know. But also she noticed that all of these traits belonged to the old her. She had thought she had gotten rid of it when Zira began training her to be a murderer, but it seems being with Kopa has revived her inner cub.

"Hmm…Well, I think you had this grudge against elephants for some odd reason…" said Kopa unsurely.

"Are you pulling my leg? A grudge on elephants? That sounds completely ridiculous! Actually come to think of it I think there was one"

Kopa laughed when she had said that last sentence. "Okay but why?"

"It might have something to do with you pushing me into a pile of elephant dung. Sort of like this!" said Vitani and she pushed Kopa into the water hole.

Kopa made quite a splash as he resurfaced to sound of Vitani laughing. "Okay you got me. Now come help me up" said Kopa, he wasn't angry, far from it, he was smiling quite sweetly and a little too innocently.

"Nuh-uh, you're just going to pull me in with you like you did when we were cubs"

"Oh come on, like I'd remember something like that"

"No, but I bet you were thinking it anyway"

"Maybe"

Kopa walked out of the water and shook himself dry, spraying Vitani a little. While Vitani was still caught with giggling, Kopa was able to catch her off guard and pounce on her playfully. They tumbled down a small hill before coming to a stop. Vitani was surprised to find herself pinned.

"You're not bad. I remembered when I used to be able to pin you all the time" smiled Vitani.

"Well, I've gotten used to having to hunt on my own" said Kopa."It's not like you had any special conditions to help you be a better huntress"

Suddenly Vitani's expression sobered up. She stood up and out of his grasp.

"What's wrong? Was it something I said?" asked Kopa worriedly.

"No…Not like that…You didn't know…" said Vitani quietly.

"Didn't know what?"

"…That I used to be an exiled lioness"

"What? But that doesn't make any sense! I'm positive I've seen you in my memories. You were never an outcast then. Why were you banished?"

"It's long story that I'll save for some other time. Just know that what happened wasn't my fault…It was all my mother's"

"Your mother's?"

"Trust me…Its best that you don't know the reasons for my exile…Just know that…That I didn't want what my mother had wanted"

"…All right…I guess I can't force you to tell me something you don't want to but…"

"But what?"

"Nothing…Just know that I'm here for you" said Kopa gently as he nuzzled her affectionately.

Vitani let herself be nuzzled as she closed her eyes and returned the gesture. But a few seconds later she abruptly pulled away. "I'm sorry…I just…"

"Its fine, I understand…"

'No, no you don't…'

-X-

"Looks like 'Tani's finally letting loose" commented Kovu from his point on Pride Rock.

Kiara was sitting beside her mate at the very edge of Pride Rock. They were both observing Vitani and Kopa for the time being. They wanted to see what exactly they would do.

"I feel really bad for doing this. I feel like we're spying on them" commented Kiara.

"No it's fine…It's not like others didn't do the same to you two" said a mysterious voice from behind them.

Both of them almost jumped in surprise but it turned out to be only Rafiki.

"Don't scare us like that! Do you know what could've happened if we had jumped while we were at the edge. How the heck do you appear out of nowhere like that anyway?" said Kovu, only a little angry.

"I apologize for popping up unannounced" Rafiki chuckled. "I'm just here to check on the future heirs of the Pride Lands"

"Did you just say heirs? As in more than one?" asked Kiara.

Rafiki only smiled in response. Both Kovu and Kiara smiled brightly at each other.

"I can't believe it! We're going to have more than one cub! That's fantastic!" exclaimed Kiara.

"It sounds like a lot more responsibility but I think we'll manage. Now we're going to be the parents of multiple cubs" smiled Kovu.

"Yes, just keep in mind of what happened to Taka and Mufasa" said Rafiki with a serious expression.

"Yes we know Rafiki. You told us those stories so that we wouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past. We'll raise them both to be loved and cared for" assured Kiara.

"And they won't be alone…Simba and I will still be around to watch over them as well" smiled Nala as she came to nuzzle her daughter.

"But won't Simba be busy with his king duties to take care of them?" asked Kovu.

"Simba thinks you are almost ready to take his place as king. So when the time comes he will step down and the throne will belong to you and Kiara. He doesn't have to die for you to take over" said Nala.

"You mean he'll still be here to guide me even when I rule?" asked Kovu.

"Even he wasn't here physically he'd still be up there with the Great Kings of the Past" Rafiki reminded them.

"And I know that you'll be up there with them too one day. No matter what you say and no matter what doubts you have…I know for certain" said Kiara lovingly as she nuzzled her mate.

"I may doubt myself but I know never to doubt you" smiled Kovu returning her nuzzle.

"It seems you have truly found Upendi. And it seems your siblings may have found it as well" said Rafiki.

"Upendi?" questioned Nala.

"It means 'love' right?" said Kiara.

"Hm…I always thought it was 'Upendo' but I guess 'Upendi' does sound better" said Nala.

"Either way it's still very special to us" smiled Kovu.

The royal couple turned to watch their siblings in the distance. They saw them nuzzle for a moment before Vitani broke away.

"It doesn't look as if it's going so well for them" Kovu frowned.

"Mom, you didn't meet Kopa last night. Why don't you go and see him now?" asked Kiara.

Nala looked down sadly and didn't respond for a little while. "…I'm not sure if I'd be able to take it…He is my son after all…If I went to see him then I might just break down and cry in front of him"

"Oh mom…I understand that but don't you want to see him and maybe get to know him for who he is now? You know if he doesn't meet you then he may never remember you" pointed out Kiara.

"And you can just tell him that you were really close to him when he was a cub. You don't really have to tell him who you really are to him" added Kovu.

"Yes…You're right…And I do want to meet him and get to know him for who he is now" smiled Nala.

While Kiara and Kovu were now conversing with the queen, Rafiki felt a sudden breeze from behind and he turned around. He faced the horizon and felt something different. There was something that was disturbing the natural balance of the Pride Lands.

'Could it be Kopa…No…What is it you are trying to tell me Mufasa?' Rafiki was very worried now. The only times there was ever a bad connection between the physical world and the spiritual one was when the balance was off.

"There's something here on the Pride Lands. And Mufasa isn't the one telling me this…Who are you?" whispered Rafiki to the sky so that the others wouldn't hear him. He noticed a dark silhouette but that was it. He shook his head and turned back towards the royal family. 'This does not seem good at all'

-X-

Tamina was watching Kopa and Vitani from her perch on a branch of an acacia tree. She sighed sadly when she saw them nuzzling together. 'Looks like he'll be staying here even if he doesn't find out who his parents are' Tamina was no expert on love but even she could tell when something more than friendship was about to bloom. She turned away from the scene sadly but jumped in surprise when she saw another meerkat's face so close to her own.

"Whoa!" she exclaimed. "Timon…What are you doing here? You almost scared me right out of this tree"

"Heh, sorry about that…I just saw you up here and you looked kind of lonely so I decided to join you. You know it's not safe for meerkats like us to be roaming around above ground without protection. There are other predators other than lions you know" said Timon.

"Gee thanks captain Obvious, like I don't notice the leopards or cheetahs prowling around. Beside they've got bigger fish to fry other than two small rodents" said Tamina bitterly. "Like that swine friend of yours. The pig"

"His name is Pumbaa. And what put you in such a bad mood Cranky McStanky?" said Timon.

Tamina rudely pushed him to the side, jumped down from the tree, and began walking away. "I don't need this" she muttered.

"Hey, I'm not done with you!"

"Well I'm done with you!"

Timon began following and it was starting to irritate her to no end. She wanted so badly to rip his head off his body but considering he was the son of the very meerkat that offered her a place to stay so that she could be close to Kopa, she knew it would probably be a bad idea.

"Why are you following me? Why don't you go hang out with your mom, I'm sure the two of you have a lot of catching up to do anyway" shouted Tamina over her shoulder.

"Nah, she's hanging out with Pumbaa and they're sharing grub recipes. And I'm following you because I find you much more interesting than the 'many different ways to prepare dung beetles'" said Timon.

"Well I have really bad social skills and a very bad temper so you better just leave me alone!"

Tamina turned around once more but noticed he had vanished. She had no idea how that happened so she just shrugged and turned back around. Once again she jumped in surprise to see Timon staring her in the face once more.

"You can't get rid of me so easily" smiled Timon.

"How did you do that?" she asked from her position on the ground.

"Eh, let's just say I know a baboon. Here, let me help you up" said Timon as he offered her his hand.

"No thanks" she frowned and smacked his hand away. "I can get up on my own" she said as she stood up and left.

"Geez, you really do have a temper"

"Don't make me rip that mouth off that face of yours!"

"Ha, I'd like to see you try!"

"Oh, you don't think I can take on meerkat of your stature? Just because you raised a lion cub like me doesn't put us on the same level. I warn you, if you want to fight me, you'll lose. I took down a rhino with my own bare hands"

"Bring it on! I'm not scared"

Timon was strangely confident. In most cases he wouldn't want to get into a fight with anybody. It wasn't because he was sexist and believed she was below him; it was more because she wasn't a predator and he had a few tricks up his sleeve, metaphorically speaking.

"Don't say I didn't warn you" Tamina smirked as she swiftly jumped to a nearby tree. She pulled out a sharp and long splinter and advanced on him. She was fast and was ready strike with the splinter, aiming to miss of course.

But Timon was completely unfazed. He stood his ground and once she was an inch away from him, he moved right into the range of the piece of wood. Tamina's eyes widened when she stabbed him.

"Argh! What was that for? I expected you to stop before you hit me!" shouted Timon in pain as he fell.

"Oh Great Kings! Timon! Uh…Erm…Don't worry, I'll get you help" said Tamina in a worried tone.

"No…Don't…I already feel too weak. There's no way I'll be able to survive if you go now. Just…Just tell my family…Pumbaa…And Simba that I love them…Good bye…cruel world…" moaned Timon as his eyes squeezed themselves shut.

Blood began to slowly spill out from the damaged area and Tamina only looked on in horror. She walked over to him and knelt down. She was completely horrified and knew that she was in huge trouble. But it wasn't just that, he may have been annoying but it was also sort of lovable. She felt like she was going to cry but then her nose caught an unusual scent. It was from his blood…It smelled like…berry juice?

Timon suddenly grabbed her arms and flipped her over. He was now standing over her and he had her own weapon held to her neck. The fake blood dripped onto her and she noticed that it really was berry juice. He must've been holding red berries before she had 'stabbed' him and it looked a lot like blood. It wasn't just that, the splinter had never stabbed him in the first place; it was just under his armpit.

"Looks like I've won this match" Timon smirked as he threw her weapon away and helped her up.

"You tricked me!" said Tamina indignantly.

"What a fighter lacks in skill and power, he makes up for in brains and strategy" smiled Timon. Little did he know that he was quoting from Taka.

"When did you get a hold of those berries?"

"There's a berry bush behind you"

"Well how did you know I was planning on fake stabbing you?"

"I didn't. That was just luck. If you had decided to use your fists instead then I'd just keep evading until you run out of energy"

"Well how do you know that I wouldn't have caught you? Despite my age, I'm much more agile than you think"

"Yeah, well so am I. Running from predators isn't as easy as you think whereas you don't run from them. You fight them. And I like that, reminds of the stories of my dad"

"Your dad?"

"Yeah, you ever heard of Fearless Buzz? He's the bravest meerkat to have ever lived and he was my father. Even though I never got to know him, I still love him. Ma used to speak of him all the time and not once has she ever not mentioned that she loved him with all her heart" smiled Timon.

"Fearless Buzz was your dad? And here I thought you were just like every other meerkat but I guess you got some of his genes" said Tamina.

"No, I'm nothing like him. Believe me, he was fearless, I'm fearful. I wouldn't be surprised if you were his offspring though. You're a lot like him…Sometimes I wish I was like that too"

"Thanks but the only reason I'm like him is because stories of him swirled around my colony and I dreamed of being like him. So I always tried to do things that no one else could. But because of that, no one liked to hang out with me and I got this cold outward personality. I became known as that crazy meerkat" said Tamina sadly.

"Well all of those meerkats just weren't brave enough to do something like that. Now you're here, where all the meerkats are either just as crazy as or even crazier than you. Myself included. And let's not forget those other meerkats at the oasis; they're all pretty brave too. I bet you'll be able to make tons of friends here!" said Timon in an attempt to cheer her up.

Tamina smiled and giggled. "Thanks Timon…You're pretty cool even though you can be really annoying"

"I get that a lot"

"So…You know any meerkats that are willing to show me around?"

"I think I've got the perfect one in mind"

The two of them began walking through the grass ready for a tour of the Pride Lands. It would be much better than lying around doing absolutely nothing. And it was certainly a step up from spying on Kopa.

"Great! But you probably want to clean up that berry juice off first" said Tamina.

"Actually I think I make this color work" grinned Timon making a pose.

"You're such an idiot…Thanks for being that though. It makes me feel so smart" giggled Tamina.

"Too bad I won't ever be able to make you feel like a genius though"

"Yes you can, just jump off a cliff and scream 'I'm the king of the world' on your way down"

"On second thought, I think making you feel smart is just fine"

-X-

This chapter was finally completed late last night but I didn't want to update until today. I was very tired and like I said, I wanted to update at a more 'normal' pace. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter, tell me what you think and don't hold back. And I think I'll take a small break from writing…I'm hoping for more than just guest reviews or just two reviews. It's like you people don't want me to keep writing. And right now, Mufasa is not resting in peace in this world. How come some of you followers and people who favorite this story, don't send in feedback? If you like it then why not say something or tell me if there's something I can improve on?